Potential of Hexacladia smithii (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae) to parasitize Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera Pentatomidae) adults

Abstract

Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera Pentatomidae) is an important pest of several crops. Biological control using parasitoids as natural enemies of pests represents a promising alternative strategy to the use of pesticides. Oophagous parasitoids are helpful in the management of this pest, but they are not sufficient for the control of the target insect. The aim was to assess the potential of a parasitoid of the adult stage of related stink bug species, Hexacladia smithii Ashmead (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae), as a biocontrol agent targeting P. guildinii. In the laboratory, adults of this stink bug were successfully parasitized, allowing also the emergence of a first filial generation of parasitoids. The percentage of emergence of wasps reached 61.9%. The results obtained indicate that H. smithii has the potential to develop in this host. This is the first record of H. smithii developing two generations on P. guildinii adults, indicating that this stink bug is a component of the host range of H. smithii. The action of parasitoids that attack the adult stage of hosts, such as H. smithii, in combination with the control exerted by the egg parasitoids, may be useful for the management of P. guildinii.